COVID-19 cardiac injury and the use of colchicine. Issue 2 (23rd February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Anton-Vazquez, Vanesa; Byrne, Laura; Anderson, Lisa; Hamzah, Lisa
• Is Part Of: BMJ case reports. Volume 14:Issue 2(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-02-23
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- drugs and medicines -- cardiovascular medicine; Medicine -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2020-241047
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-790X

Abstract

Abstract : We report a case of cardiac injury in a 46-year-old man affected by COVID-19. The patient presented with shortness of breath and fever. ECG revealed sinus tachycardia with ventricular extrasystoles and T-wave inversion in anterior leads. Troponin T and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide were elevated. Transthoracic echocardiography showed severely reduced systolic function with an estimated left ventricle ejection fraction of 30%. A nasopharingeal swab was positive for SARS-CoV-2. On day 6, 11 days after onset of symptoms, the patient deteriorated clinically with new chest pain and type 1 respiratory failure. Treatment with colchicine 0.5 mg 8-hourly resulted in rapid clinical resolution. This case report highlights how cardiac injury can dominate the clinical picture in COVID-19 infection. The role of colchicine therapy should be further studied to determine its usefulness in reducing myocardial and possibly lung parenchymal inflammatory responses.